Winemaking in Virginia started with the earliest settlements in the New World.
Did you know that today's wine bottle was designed by the ancient Romans? It holds six glasses of wine -- three for you and three for me.
In 1609, the first bottle of wine was produced in Virginia.
In 1619, a law was enacted that every household must plant 10 vines per year.
But European vines did not grow in Virginia -- in spite of all the efforts of Jefferson, Washington, Madison, and all the acts of the General Assembly.
...Until the 1970's, when Gabriele Rausse successfully grafted European vinifera onto native root stock and produced a world class wine. For the past 30+ years, the story of Virginia wines keeps getting better.
What I love about Virginia wines is that each one is unique -- each one is a new adventure.
I became interested in Virginia wines when I moved to Charlottesville (home of Thomas Jefferson) in January, 2005, and became the Dean of Workforce Services at Piedmont Virginia Community College. My first assignment was to start a program to support the wine industry. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
We started classes in March, 2005. In 2006 we had a group of interns from South Africa. In 2008, we launched three apprenticeship programs for cellar workers, winemakers and vineyard managers.
My goal is to support the wine industry through education, while preserving the unique personality of Virginia wines. Virginia is for lovers, and each bottle of Virginia wine is made with love.
So, pour yourself a glass of Virginia wine, sit back and enjoy. Check out our schedule at http://www.pvcc.edu/docs/ summer_workforce_services_schedule .pdf.
The next class is on Wine Analysis and Tasting at King Family Vineyards on June 7th. I hope I'll see you there.
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Winemaking in Virginia started with the earliest settlements in the New World.
Did you know that today's wine bottle was designed by the ancient Romans? It holds six glasses of wine -- three for you and three for me.
In 1609, the first bottle of wine was produced in Virginia.
In 1619, a law was enacted that every household must plant 10 vines per year.
But European vines did not grow in Virginia -- in spite of all the efforts of Jefferson, Washington, Madison, and all the acts of the General Assembly.
...Until the 1970's, when Gabriele Rausse successfully grafted European vinifera onto native root stock and produced a world class wine. For the past 30+ years, the story of Virginia wines keeps getting better.
What I love about Virginia wines is that each one is unique -- each one is a new adventure.
I became interested in Virginia wines when I moved to Charlottesville (home of Thomas Jefferson) in January, 2005, and became the Dean of Workforce Services at Piedmont Virginia Community College. My first assignment was to start a program to support the wine industry. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
We started classes in March, 2005. In 2006 we had a group of interns from South Africa. In 2008, we launched three apprenticeship programs for cellar workers, winemakers and vineyard managers.
My goal is to support the wine industry through education, while preserving the unique personality of Virginia wines. Virginia is for lovers, and each bottle of Virginia wine is made with love.
So, pour yourself a glass of Virginia wine, sit back and enjoy. Check out our schedule at http://www.pvcc.edu/docs/
summer_workforce_services_schedule .pdf.
The next class is on Wine Analysis and Tasting at King Family Vineyards on June 7th. I hope I'll see you there.
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